ramsdell



' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. RAMSDELL.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOD AND OIL GAS.

No. 247,516. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

WITNESSES V INVENIOR ATTORNEY (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. RAMSDELL. APPARATUS FOR THEQMANUF-AGTURE OF WOOD AND OIL GAS. No. 247,516. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

I I :1 i q A WITNESSES INVENTOR AwTolmEir N. PETERS. Fholwulhu m her. \VashingMn. n. cy

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

'(No Model.)

G." RAMSDELL.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOD AND OIL GAS.

No. 247,516". Patented Sept. 27,1881.

. mvEN'ro WITN SSES ATTORNEY N. PETERS. PImlmLilhograWer. Wgslflnglnn, ac

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE RAMSDELL, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOD AND OIL GAS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 247,516, dated September 27, 1881. Application filed November 26, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE RAMSDELL, of Oswego, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Wood and Oil Gas; and I do hereby declare the following tofbe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The object of the several improvements herein set forth is to provide means peculiarly'fitted to answer the various practical requirements of apparatus for the manufacture of wood and oil gas.

4 These improvements relate, first, to the method of generating wood gas and treating the same before mixing it with the oil-vapor; second, to the manner of controlling the introduction of the wood-gas and the oil-vapor into the mixing-chamber prior to their joint passage into the superheater; .third, to the manner of feeding the oil-retort by atmospheric pressure.

In order to change the carbonic acid generated in the wood-retorts into carbonic oxide, and thereby increase the-illuminating property of the wood-gas, I pass the latter through a bed of charcoal located in the lower portion of the appropriate retort. This retort is provided with a longitudinal partition, which divides it into two compartments, the upper one being filled with wood and the lower one witlicharcoal. A passage-way is formed in the rear portion of the retort, establishing a communication bet-ween the wood and charcoal chambers. The gas passes from the mouth-piece of each retort by a pipe leading fromthe lower compartment, the respective pipes of the different retorts being connected with valve devices adapted to permit communication with any one or more closed retorts.

Certain features of construction employed in my com'plete apparatus, and covered by patents previously granted to me, are shown herein, in order to represent the new inventions in the manner in which I shall use them. Among said previously-patented constructions are, the

water-jacket about the oil feed-pipe, the mix-'- ing-ohamber with its valve and pipesleading therefrom to the retorts, the superheating-re tort with its connections, and the hydraulic main having dip-pipes extending different distances therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bench of retorts, provided with the several improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a longitudinal section of the superheating-retort. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal vertical section through the oil retort and cylinder surrounding the feed-pipe. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the mixing-chamber, the valve-chamber located below the latter, and the pipes respectively connecting with both said chambers. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the hydraulic main. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the wood-retorts.

Two wood-retorts, A and B, are located in the same horizontal line, one of them in vertical line below the remaining wood-retort O, and the other one in vertical line below the oilretort D. Each one of the wood-retorts is provided with a longitudinal horizontal partition, 01, extending from the front end nearly to the rear end of the retort, a passage-way, b, being formed at the rear of the retort, between the two compartments made by this partition. A pipe extends from the inner side of the mouthpiece of each wood-retort, leading from the lower compartment thereof in an inclined upward direction. The two lower wood-retorts have their pipes E and F connecting with a valve-chamber, G, the latter being provided with a rotary valve, H, adapted to close onev or both of these pipes from communicating with its chamber. This valve may alsoa'close communication of its chamber with a vertical pipe, K, leading from its top to the bottom of the mixing-chamber L.

The pipe M, which leads from wood-retort C, connects with the mixing-chamber on one side of its lower portion, and the pipe N, which leads from the oil-retort, connects with the mixing-chamber on the other side of its lower portion. A vertioal pipe, P, leads from the top of the mixing-chain her to the bottom of the mouth piece of the superheating-retortR.

The rotary valve S is adapted to close any one, two, or all of the three pipes which lead into the inixing-chamber, or to close the pipe which leads therefrom to the superheating-re tort. The several pipes which lead from their respective retorts are arranged at a sharp angle of inclination, to prevent the deposition of carbonaceous matter therein.

The valve devices are adapted to permit any one or number of the different generating-retorts to be shut off from the others, so that any retort may be individually charged, or otherwise be attended to independently of the other retorts. In case the superheating-retort re quires attention it may be closed off from the mixingchamber, the oil-vapor and the woodgases being passed through their respective stand-pipes T. The latter and the stand-pipe A of the superheatin g-retort are provided with dip-pipes formed at acute angles therewith, so that all tendency to deposits of carbon in the dip-pipes may be obviated.

The dip-pipes B, connecting, respectively, with the stand-pipes T, extend a greater distance within the hydraulic main 0 than does the dip-pipe D, which connects with stand-pipe A. This heavier sealing of the dip-pipes B prevents the wood gas and oil-vapor from passing through them into the hydraulic main, while the valve apparatus previously described does not positively cut any of them off, and is in normal operation; but when from any cause the gas or vapor cannot passiu regular course through the superheatingmetort it can find exit from the retort by passing through the heavy-sealed dip-pipes directly into the hydraulic main.

The upper compartment, 0, of each wood-retort is to be charged with wood. The lower compartment, (1, is to be charged with charcoal, the latter extending up into and filling the passage-way formed between the two compartments. The carbonic acid formed in the upper compartment passes through the said rear passage-way into the lower compartment and alongthelatterto thegas-exitat the mouthpiece. During this passage it is brought into contact with the heated charcoal,andis thereby converted from carbonic acid into carbonic oxide. This chemical change adds to the illuminating property of the gas, increasing the Volume and quality of the light derived therefrom.

The superheating-retort, being divided into upper and lower longitudinal compartments, 0 andf, receives the mixed gas and vapor from the mixing-chamber. This mixed gas and vapor pass through the length of the lower compartment, from its front to its rear, then pass through opening 9 into the rear end of the upper compartment,and pass through the length of the latter before escaping into the standpipe A. This treatment causes the combined wood-gas and oil-vapor to pass out of the superheating-retort as a fixed gas.

One end of the hydraulic main is provided with adoor,h,to permit the main to be cleaned out, as occasion may require.

To supply the oil-retortwith its charge I provide aseries of oil-tanks,E, seated on a stand, F. Each oil-tank has a pipe, G, leading into its bottom from an oil-pump,H, said pipes being respectively provided with valves 7', so as to retain in the tanks the oil forced therein. Each of these oil-tanks isfurther provided with a glass gage, I, and an index, on, whereby the height of the oil in the tank and the number of gallons of said oil may be readily known.

From the lower side portion of each tank there leads a pipe, m, said pipes uniting in a single pipe, L, which connects indirectly with the oil-retort.

From the top of each oil-tank extends avertical pipe, n,leading into the bottom of an airchamber, M, located longitudinally over the oil-tanks. These vertical pipes support the airchamber in position, and the latteris provided at its top with an air-gage, N, to indicate the pressure of the air within said chamber. Said vertical pipes are respectively provided with valves ;,so as to regulate the admission of air into the several oil-tanks. An air-pump, P, forces air, through pipe E, into the air-chamber, a valve, 1*, with which the pipe is provided, preventing back-flow of the air from the chamher.

The upper extremity of pipe L connects, by coupling 8, with a horizontal pipe, t, whereby pipe L may be disconnected without disturbing the T-connection S,which has its horizontal arm engaging with pipe i. The vertical arm of the T-connection engages with the upper end of pipe T, which latter is located in the upright water-cylinder V.

The upper end of pipe T is provided with a plug, c, whereby the pipe may be cleaned as desired. Set-screws to maintain the upper portion of this pipe in position in the cylinder, and its lower extremity is screw-threaded in the bottom of the cylinder. The extremelower end of the pipe is seated in a recess formed in the top of the oil-retort,and an opening in the latter conducts the oil therein.

A pipe, NV, conducts cold water into the cylinder, and a pipe, W, conducts the water therefrom, thus insuring a constant supply of cold water as a jacket about the pipe. The oil-pipe is thus maintained cool, so that no carbonaceous deposit may be formed on its sides. The lower extremity of the cylinder is provided with a flange, :c,between which and the top of the oil-retort a packing, y, of asbestus or similar material may be placed, to insure a tight joint.

I make no broad claim in this patent to an apparatus provided with wood and oil retorts and a gas-mixing chamber; neither do I make claim to oil-feeding apparatus. Instances of similar construction and arrangement of such parts are disclosed in Letters Patent granted to me February 24, 1880. Further, I make no broad claim to a divided retort having one compartmentfor charcoal and anotherfor wood.

Having fully described myinvention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of wood and oil gas, the combination, with an 0il-retort and a gas-mixing chamber, of awood retort provided with an upper compartment for wood and a lower compartment for charcoal, and a passage connecting the rear ends of said compartments, and an exit-pipe connecting with the forward end of the charcoalcompartment, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for the manufacture of wood and oil gas, the combination, with a gas and vapor mixing chamber and a rotary valve located therein, of two side pipes leading, respectively, to a wood and an oil retort, an upright pipe leading to a superheating-retort, and a depending pipe leading to a lower valvechamber, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of Wood and oil gas, the combination, with three woodretorts and an oil-retort located in horizontal November, 1880.

GEORGE RAMSDELL.

Witnesses: I. T. BRACKETT, A. J. SHELLEY. 

